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MANILA: Dave & Buster’s, the popular American entertainment and dining brand, has officially broken ground on its inaugural location in the Philippines. Set to open at the bustling Opus Mall in Manila, the venue will offer locals a first taste of the brand’s signature mix of cutting-edge arcade games, American cuisine, and dynamic sports viewing. The groundbreaking ceremony marked a key moment in Dave & Buster’s international expansion and was hosted in collaboration with its local franchise partner, The Bistro Group. Company executives, local officials, and community leaders attended the event, signalling strong anticipation for the brand’s debut in Southeast Asia. “This is more than a groundbreaking—it’s a landmark moment in our international story,” said Antonio Bautista, Chief International Development Officer at Dave & Buster’s. “With the strength of our partnership with The Bistro Group, we’re bringing an exciting new concept to Manila that delivers fun, flavour, and unforgettable experiences.” Jean Paul Manuud, President of The Bistro Group, echoed the sentiment: “Dave & Buster’s is a game-changing brand. We’re proud to launch this first-of-its-kind experience in the Philippines where great food, cutting-edge games, and community come together.” The Manila flagship will blend the brand’s renowned American fare with local culinary influences, feature a wide selection of state-of-the-art games, and provide flexible spaces for private events and major sports viewing. This debut in the Philippines forms part of a broader multi-unit development strategy in the region. Dave & Buster’s has already announced additional international locations set to open in 2025, including its second venue in India, as well as new outlets in Australia, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. The brand currently operates more than 220 locations across North America and is actively expanding across five continents.

BENGALURU: Indian fashion e-commerce giant Myntra is taking its first steps into international retail with the launch of Myntra Global in Singapore. The platform will offer curated selections of trendy, made-in-India fashion and lifestyle products, primarily targeting the city-state’s sizeable Indian diaspora of approximately 650,000. This strategic move marks a significant milestone for Myntra, which has built an 18-year legacy as a leading player in India’s fashion and lifestyle e-commerce space. The new venture also aligns with the Indian government’s broader vision of promoting Indian-made products on a global scale. “Myntra Global is a milestone moment,” said Nandita Sinha, CEO of Myntra. “With our experience in serving millions of fashion-conscious customers and our strong brand partnerships, we aim to bring the vibrancy of Indian fashion to Indians abroad, beginning with Singapore.” The new platform launches with around 35,000 styles from 100 popular Indian brands across apparel, footwear, home décor, and accessories. Shoppers in Singapore will have access to labels such as Aurelia, Global Desi, Libas, Rustorange, House of Pataudi, Chumbak, The Label Life, and many more. Myntra had already observed organic traction from Singapore, with about 30,000 users accessing its Indian platform prior to the official launch. The company is now aiming to formalise that interest with a seamless digital shopping experience through Myntra Global, accessible via mobile web and desktop. Orders will be fulfilled in an estimated 4–7 days using third-party cross-border logistics providers. The move not only reinforces Myntra’s intent to serve global consumers, but also promises a growth runway for Indian fashion brands aspiring to expand beyond the domestic market.

BANGKOK: Thailand’s Supreme Administrative Court has ordered former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to pay 10 billion baht (approximately US$305 million) in damages over losses incurred by a controversial rice subsidy programme implemented during her tenure. The ruling follows Yingluck’s appeal against a prior order requiring her to pay 35 billion baht. The court determined that while the previous figure exceeded her legal liability, she was still responsible for significant losses caused by gross negligence in overseeing the scheme. Launched under her Pheu Thai-led administration, the rice pledging programme paid farmers up to 50% above market prices. The populist initiative was politically popular but financially unsustainable, resulting in billions of dollars in losses and surplus rice stockpiles. Yingluck, who fled the country in 2017 to avoid a five-year prison sentence for negligence, called the latest order “excessive” and vowed to continue fighting for justice. “Even if I repaid it my entire life, it would never be enough,” she said via social media. The verdict comes as the Shinawatra family regains political influence, with the Pheu Thai party returning to power and Yingluck’s brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, having recently returned from self-imposed exile. The Shinawatras maintain the charges against them are politically motivated, rooted in longstanding tensions with Thailand’s conservative establishment.–REUTERS

MANILA: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Seong-Wook Kim as its new Chief Partnership Officer, tasked with leading resource mobilisation and strategic engagement through the Office of the President. In this role, Kim will spearhead ADB’s partnerships with the global development community, including engagement at key international forums and outreach to potential new member countries. His leadership will be central to deepening collaboration with development partners and enhancing the bank’s development impact across Asia and the Pacific. “As ADB expands its role in an evolving development landscape, effective partnerships are more critical than ever,” said ADB President Masato Kanda. “Mr. Kim’s extensive diplomatic and multilateral experience positions him well to drive our strategic collaborations.” Commenting on his appointment, Kim said, “I am honoured to join ADB and contribute to its mission by strengthening partnerships that accelerate sustainable development across the region.” A national of the Republic of Korea, Kim brings over three decades of experience at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, having served as Deputy Minister for International Affairs and in various key roles involving the G20 and ASEAN+3 Finance processes. He has also represented the region as Executive Director at both the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Kim holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor’s in Economics from Seoul National University. Founded in 1966, ADB is a multilateral development bank owned by 69 members, including 50 from the Asia-Pacific region. It supports inclusive and sustainable development through financing, knowledge-sharing, and strategic partnerships.

HANOI: The United States and Vietnam have concluded a second round of trade negotiations on tariffs and agreed to continue the talks to address unresolved issues, Vietnam’s trade ministry said in a statement on Thursday (May 22). The second round of talks took place in Washington on May 19-22 involving Vietnam’s Trade Minister Nguyen Hong Dien and the US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the Vietnamese ministry said on its website showing pictures of meetings. “At the end of the negotiation round, Vietnam and the United States made positive progress, identifying groups of issues on which consensus was close, and groups of issues that needed further discussion to reach consensus in the coming time,” the statement said, without elaborating. It noted that talks will need to continue in early June. The US Trade Representative did not immediately reply to a request for comment outside of US business hours. Vietnam heavily relies on exports to the US and faces one of the highest “reciprocal” tariff rates set by the White House at 46 per cent. Those duties have been paused globally by Washington until July.–REUTERS

HONG KONG :Goldman Sachs is merging three Asian investment banking businesses it previously managed separately into a single unit to integrate its regional deals advisory and capital market capabilities, according to a memo reviewed by Reuters. Iain Drayton, head of the Wall Street bank’s investment banking business in Asia excluding Japan, will lead the integrated Asia Pacific investment banking unit, said the internal memo issued on Thursday. A bank spokesperson confirmed the memo’s content. “This structure will enable more holistic client engagement, more effective deployment of global and regional expertise, and increased career opportunities for our people,” Goldman Sachs said in the memo. In the new role, Drayton will work closely with Yoshihiko Yano and Shogo Matsuzawa, co-heads of investment banking in Japan, and Nick Sims and Zac Fletcher, co-heads of corporate advisory in Australia and New Zealand, the memo said. A Goldman Sachs veteran, Drayton joined the firm in Tokyo as a managing director in 2006, relocated to Hong Kong in 2010, and was named a partner in 2014. Goldman Sachs ranks at the top of the Asia Pacific equity capital market league table this year, according to Dealogic data.–REUTERS